Smyrna times., 1887-02-02

The Interstate Commerce bill which
has passed both houses of Congress
and in the hands of the President was
voted for by Senators Salisbury and
Gray and Representative Lore. The
object of the bill is to prevent discrimi-
nation by railroads in carrying freight.
Senator Salisbury made a very sensi-
bic speech during its consideration. in
which he discussed the bearing of the
third section upon the peach and berry
trade of this Peninsula. He said
In my own State, as in MANY other
sections OF the country, the cultivation
OF fruits is very important industry
ana the growers and shippers Of fruits
by arrangements with tie railroads
have for years enjoyed the necessary
facilities for the speedy delivery of
their products to market. Without
such facilities their produce would
nave comparatively but little value
and the fruit culture would have to he
abandoned.
II 1t were possible to put a constrnc.
ton upon this section which would
prevent the railroads from giving every
heeded facility for the rapid transpor-
tatlon OF perishable articles. or imDair
IN the least opportunities which sucb
Shippers enjoy, l could not and would
not vote for the bill, but 1 do not he
heVe such construction possible II
would not be held byany railroad com
pahy or any court in the country To be-
an undue or unreasonable preference
or advantage to send forward with the
greatest possible rapidity freight of Ills
character so as to secure its deIiver,, In
good order in the markets to which
they were consigned. On the contrary
neglect or refusal to do so on the
part OF common carriers would clearly
De regarded an undue, an unreasons-
bic prejudice and disadvantage to tkis
particular description Of traffic and
violate not only the spirit but tbr
very letter of the law.
" 1t would be as reasonable n en-,
pose that the provisions Of this secttnn
"ou.a p'eEeu the running Of express
me carrying Of passengers as
TO suppose that it inhibits the running
OF rapid trains for the safe delivery of
perlshable treights. All apprehensions
ielt IN any quarter in this regard are in
my opinion unwarranted bv anvthiu,,
contained in the third or any other sec,
ton OF the bill. i will add that tho
view which | have expressed in rscar-
ence to this matter is in harmonv ,vi,b
the opinion of all the members If iii
body with whom / have conferred md
some surprise has been expressed tbat
any different opinion could be enter.
tanned by any one.
Independent Of any Obligation i'm
posed by the provisions of this bill the
duty OF common carriers to the nuhlic
would compel railroads to provide the
proper facilities for shippers of this kind
OF freight, and that duty would NOT he
properly performed by furnishing univ
the same accommodation required fcy
.iOther produce, such as lumber. grain
&C. All common carriers take into
consideration the character of the ser.
wee required, and recognize the obli-
CATION which their relation to the pub
hc imposes seek, if under INTELLIGENT
management, to meet the Just demands
upon them. -
81 FBesides this. self-interest would
nttynpI Siie carrier 70 grant all needed
lacllisles for the prompt delivery oI
perls3hla0le freight, as otherwise thew
would destroy a very profitable
part OF their business. With notbino
m.lne bll 70 prevent special arrange.
hehts lot the appropriate and neces.
sary rapidlty 10 forwarding freights re.
quiring speedy delivery. I cannon cap.
'celve that any apprehension need Il,
felt that the duty imposed by their re-
lation to the public, and enforced i,
self-interest, will not be faithfully per
formed p 20 a1Aal llsitif'l 81 ~ 70